Keep Fireworks Clear of Powerlines
Can’t wait for the professional fireworks display – the one local firefighters supervise so nobody gets hurt? You are taking a risk by lighting your own.
Even legal fireworks can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Fourth of July revelers report 9,300 fireworks-related injuries a year. Firecrackers are responsible for 1,600 of those. Next worst are bottle rockets and sparklers, which burn at about 2,000 degrees.
If you put on your own backyard show, stay away from power lines. Light fireworks in open areas where you cannot even see any power lines.
If your fireworks get tangled in an overhead wire or create a spark on one, call 911 and Escambia River Electric Cooperative immediately. Do not try to solve the problem yourself.
Here are additional fireworks safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fire.
- Children should be spectators, not participants, in the show. Never give children fireworks or sparklers.
- Read and carefully follow directions and warning labels. Most injuries result from improper use.
- Keep spectators at least 20 feet away and not downwind from where the fireworks will be set off.
- Light fireworks only on a smooth, flat surface away from all flammable materials, including dry leaves.
- Never try to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
